The Critic ~ Album #13 Review ~ Depeche Mode

[Brazilian]

It's a great album. Toxic is fantastic,classic,the best song of her career. Everytime is the best ballad she already recorded.Shadow is amazing and it's a pitty it wasn't the fourth single,although it's very similar to "I'm with you" of Avril.

Outrageous is irritatin and repetitive. I really don't feel Me Against the Music. I'd prefer the so antecipated duet with Madonna had been made with a way better song.

[samra]

To each their own. What you dislike about her voice is actually what I like. I prefer her unique, restrained low breathy vocals to someone with a powerful voice and wide range. Anyway, to me it's more about the music usually and how the voice sits in the various layers of production rather than the voice itself.

I must say that I also thought you'd like Shadow (which is my favourite ballad she's done, with Everytime just coming in 2nd). I also like the bonus track, 'Don't Hang Up' which was only on some international editions of the album. Obviously Toxic is an amazing track and Me Against the Music is alright but not as good as it could have or should have been.

I appreciate your honesty and attempt to remain impartial. I love hearing what other people, especially non-fans, think of artists I like (even if they're not as positive as I'd like them to be ). Let's hope you'll like my suggestsions, which includes her next album Blackout, more when you finally get to them.

[Mylostlenore]

I think Alex won't be suggesting any more for a while since he's discovered the wonders of fan fiction.

Good reviews. =)

I think you should give World Of Glass by Tristania a go.

[CrazyCrazy]

I think Alex won't be suggesting any more for a while since he's discovered the wonders of fan fiction.

Good reviews. =)

I think you should give World Of Glass by Tristania a go.

Thanks!

What do you mean by fan fiction?

I'll add the album to the list, ta chick!

PS: Thanks for everyone's feedback, it's interesting to read your thoughts!!

[CrazyCrazy]

After reading your comments I must say I'm curious to see if Blackout is an improvement over In The Zone.

[Mylostlenore]

Fan fiction is something written by fans for fans normally that utilizing characters from a pre-existing work and pre-existing people.

[CrazyCrazy]

Fan fiction is something written by fans for fans normally that utilizing characters from a pre-existing work and pre-existing people.

Oh I thought you meant like a website he had discovered or something, oh so Alex is putting his fantasies in to written action, bless him!

[HBIC]

Oh my suggestion is next, I'm nervous for your review

[Mylostlenore]

Fan fiction is something written by fans for fans normally that utilizing characters from a pre-existing work and pre-existing people.

Oh I thought you meant like a website he had discovered or something, oh so Alex is putting his fantasies in to written action, bless him!

On Heidi's last.fm shoutbox, he said he's read some explicit fan fiction about Heidi but insists that she's not a lesbian or bisexual. I expect he's always written it already.

Anyway I thought about some other albums you could review:

Perpetual Desolation - The Sins Of Thy Beloved
Imaginearum - Nightwish
Revolution In Me - Siobhan Donaghy

I think that's set 2 filled.

[CrazyCrazy]

Fan fiction is something written by fans for fans normally that utilizing characters from a pre-existing work and pre-existing people.

Oh I thought you meant like a website he had discovered or something, oh so Alex is putting his fantasies in to written action, bless him!

On Heidi's last.fm shoutbox, he said he's read some explicit fan fiction about Heidi but insists that she's not a lesbian or bisexual. I expect he's always written it already.

Anyway I thought about some other albums you could review:

Perpetual Desolation - The Sins Of Thy Beloved
Imaginearum - Nightwish
Revolution In Me - Siobhan Donaghy

I think that's set 2 filled.

cute!

Oh thanks I'll add those then.

@James - Don't worry I've been listening to it and already it's a lot better than the last album in my opinion.

[GetBack]

I also love "Don't Hang Up", the bonus track which should have made the track listing. In the Zone was not my favorite when it came out, it was the first Britney album that I didn't enjoy fully, but I do agree that it's a strong record overall, and it showed what she can offer (she has tried out various genres in her tracks here as compared to other albums) and her singles sound unpredictable (unlike her previous records where there are common elements of pop-dance).

[CrazyCrazy]

The Critic ~ Album #5: Lights - Siberia


Rating 6.8/10

An enjoyable album, she really reminds me of Ellie Goulding musically and vocally so any fans of her may find something to enjoy on this album, her vocals also have a touch of Lenka on the slower tracks, she is like a good balance of the two.

"Electro-pop" is the term which springs to mind to sum up the albums general musical sound, I really liked her vocal tone, very easy on the ears. Talking of her vocals they do seem to have been tampered with slightly by studio wizardary which was not necessary as she seemed to have a good voice although it adds to the albums intended atmospheric sound so it does work mostly.

I actually didn't have a big problem with any of the tracks individually it was just that by the time I got up to track #7, I felt myself wanting to change to something else. I think the reason for this was that it started to sound quite samey, don't get me I love albums which stay contained within a certain kind of sound/mood but there are ways of keeping it interesting this was the albums weak spot I felt, it just seemed to merge into one mush of sound.

The opening track which is also the title track was very dreamy and infectious and had a whiff of dub-step on its opening, "Toes" took a few listens but it was catchy but not enough to keep it. The track "Fourth Dimension" was a good listen but nothing great, "Timing Is Everything" had a good hook and I liked it, "Everybody Breaks A Glass" & "Where The Fence Is Low" were both good songs quite infectious as well and "Heavy Rope" was a real sweet track.

More than half way through the album now and "Cactus In The Valley" was pretty and introspective, "And Counting..." had a gentle groove which was pleasing and soothing and I enjoyed "Flux & Flow", especially the parts when she shouts and the rap (albeit short) adds an extra layer. The last track "One Day" was a good piece to crash out too, just a big mass of sounds, smooth sounds and distorted sounds a plenty, I enjoyed it but I have more affective pieces in my library and didn't need to keep it!

So my summation on this album is that it's a solid effort and I enjoy a number of the tracks individually but it suffers from sounding quite samey when listening to it as a whole and I didn't hear nothing particularly interesting on the album.

Keepers (in order of best):

#1 Everybody Breaks A Glass
#2 Siberia
#3 Where The Fence Is Low
#4 And Counting...
#5 Flux & Flow
#6 Cactus In The Valley
#7 Heavy Rope
#8 Timing Is Everything

[HBIC]

Oh yay my album! I'm glad you kinda liked it, 8 songs being kept is good It's one of my favourite albums of 2011, I'm still so addicted to it.

And Counting >>>

[CrazyCrazy]

Oh yay my album! I'm glad you kinda liked it, 8 songs being kept is good It's one of my favourite albums of 2011, I'm still so addicted to it.

And Counting >>>

Yeah I really like And Counting, the album was good! Just nothing amazing for me.

[LonelyDreamer]

Great topic!!


I'm looking forward to your reviews on my suggestions...

[Valentino]

Robyns Body Talk is a pop masterpiece you should give it a shot

[CrazyCrazy]

Robyns Body Talk is a pop masterpiece you should give it a shot

I know all of the trilogy, it was a really good set but definitely not on masterpiece level for me.

[ThomyX]

Oh, I already know and love some of those Lights tracks, I think I should give the album a spin!

[Valentino]

Robyns Body Talk is a pop masterpiece you should give it a shot

I know all of the trilogy, it was a really good set but definitely not on masterpiece level for me.

no just kidding, Im shocked that Britney only got 3,5 review, I would give it 5 or probably 6, but its the worst rating so far ,, poor Brit

[JSparksFan]

I'm sorta disappointed that you didn't like "In The Zone", but I'm not very surprised. Truthfully, it's not even in my Top 4 Britney albums. You'll probably find "Blackout" even less appealing. I can even see you describing it as "soulless".

[Valentino]

I'm sorta disappointed that you didn't like "In The Zone", but I'm not very surprised. Truthfully, it's not even in my Top 4 Britney albums. You'll probably find "Blackout" even less appealing. I can even see you describing it as "soulless".

I cant , that one was brilliant

[Mylostlenore]

In The Zone is the only Britney album, I haven't listened to in whole.

[CrazyCrazy]

The Critic ~ Album #6: Patrick Wolf - Wind In The Wires


Rating 8.2/10

Great album! ~ A Theatrical yet brooding collection, the only term I can think of the sum up the albums genre/sound is "grandeur-folk". Firstly I need to say that I have decided to keep the entire collection! It's an album which works best as a whole and it is rewarding after repeated listens.

Patrick's voice is reminiscent of Morrisey but I feel Wolf has a more expansive delivery which really compliments the material on the album. The opener "The Libertine" is a song which sinks it's teeth in after a few listens, the gorgeous piano & violin combination on the opening really sets the tone for the rest of the album, then we hear pulsating and shuffling sounds before the song kick-starts, the song is of a morally un-restrained character and is an engrossing listen.

I'll try and not go into too much detail so I'll just say that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole album and it is an album I will re-visit and will grow to appreciate even more, the main highlight on the album for me was track #11 "Tristan" ~ a beastly and gnarling track reminiscent of Tom Waits, it has grit and power, it is also rather infectious! "The Gypsy King", "This Weather" & "Lands End" are also top highlights.

The album has the ability to conjure up mental imagery, I know it sounds silly but I just pictured myself in a small rowing boat sailing out to sea and my surroundings were grey and bleak.

My summation - My favourite album so far, it boasts the strongest artistic credibility and is a very strong and engrossing alternative-folk set, comes recommended!

Keepers (in order of best):

ALL TRACKS.

Top 5 as of now:

#1 Tristan
#2 The Libertine
#3 This Weather
#4 The Gypsy King
#5 Lands End

[LonelyDreamer]

Is it really THAT great?! A +8,0 review coming from you must mean something fenomenal!

You made me curious, CC! I'll listen to this one!

[CrazyCrazy]

Is it really THAT great?! A +8,0 review coming from you must mean something fenomenal!

You made me curious, CC! I'll listen to this one!

I know I am hard to please! But I guess it comes down to taste and interpretation, you may not enjoy it as much as me but you may do, it won't hurt to try! I have a feeling it's one of those albums that need time to grow and sink it's teeth in, for the most part it is not instant.